Login

Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (April 26, 1564 - April 23, 1616) is reputed to be the greatest of all writers in the English language, or indeed in any language. His ability to capture and convey the most profound aspects of human nature is regarded by many as unequalled, and the English Renaissance has often been called "the age of Shakespeare". He was among few playwrights who have excelled in both tragedy and comedy and several of his plays contain songs that are among the finest lyric poems in English. His prolific output is especially impressive in light of the fact that he lived only 53 years. "A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool." - Will Shakespeare

The Tempest (2010)

5.4/10
Director: Julie Taymor
Starring: Alan Cumming, Alfred Molina, Chris Cooper, David Strathairn, Helen Mirren, Djimo...

The world of Shakespeare is filmmaker Julie Taymor's ("Titus") stage in this vivid version of the Bard's fantastical drama, the story of exiled female... Read more

A Midsummer Night's Dream (2008)

6.5/10
Director: Adrian Noble
Starring: Lindsay Duncan, Barry Lynch

Shakespeare's beloved comic romance is once again translated to the screen in this lively adaptation. The fantasy is brought to life by the cream of t... Read more

Hamlet 2 (2008)

6.4/10
Director: Andrew Fleming
Starring: Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, David Arquette, Elisabeth Shue, Amy Poehler, Jos...

Steve Coogan stars as a failed actor-turned-worse-high-school-drama-teacher who, in an effort to save his newly acquired drama department, conceives a... Read more

King Lear (McKellen) (2007)

8.3/10
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Frances Barber, Ian McKellen, Jonathan Hyde

The Royal Shakespeare Company's adaptation of the famous tale of jealously and betrayal, filmed in high definition as it was performed live in 2007. K... Read more

Feast of Love (2007)

6.7/10
Director: Robert Benton
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell, Billy Burke, Selma Blair, Alexa Da...

As college professor and writer Harry Stevenson (Morgan Freeman) sits quietly in the coffee shop of his tight-knit Oregon community, the local residen... Read more

Othello (Walker) (2007)

6.9/10
Director: Derek Bailey, Wilson Milam
Starring: Eamonn Walker, Tim McInnerny, Zoe Tapper

Performed for the first time at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, with its racing concentrated plot and intense dramatic detail, "Othello" is one of Shakes... Read more

As You Like It (2006)

6.3/10
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Alfred Molina, Brian Blessed, Janet McTeer, Kevin Kline, Richard Briers, David O...

Kenneth Branagh adapts and directs this playful version of Shakespeare's comedy, setting the action in a time and place resembling 19th-century Japan.... Read more

She's the Man (2006)

6.4/10
Director: Andy Fickman
Starring: Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum, Laura Ramsey, Robert Hoffman, Jonathan Sadowski, A...

This contemporary teen take on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night sees Viola (Amanda Bynes) assuming her brother Sebastian's identity so she can play on the... Read more

A Waste of Shame: The Mystery of Shakespeare and His Sonnets (2005)

6.5/10
Director: John McKay
Starring: Indira Varma, Nicholas Rowe, Rupert Graves, Zoe Wanamaker, Tom Sturridge, Anna C...

In 1609, William Shakespeare published a collection of 154 sonnets, creating what is arguably the greatest lyric sequence in English literature. But w... Read more

Macbeth - Shakespeare Retold (2005)

Director: Mark Brozel
Starring: James McAvoy, Keeley Hawes, Joseph Millson, Toby Kebbell, Vincent Regan, Richard...

Shakespeare's Scottish play is skilfully transferred to a modern day restaurant where chef Joe Macbeth (James McAvoy) has worked hard to make Duncan D... Read more